Bachelor of International Studies with Honours

Why study the Bachelor of International Studies with Honours at UNE?

Students undertake Honours in one of the majors they studied in their undergraduate degree. They can thus specialise in an area of their choice such as Global Politics and Peace; Societies (featuring sociology, development and religion); or Languages. This offers the opportunity for in depth study of topical issues significant to humanity and the future of our planet. Honours comprises coursework and a dissertation on a topic of particular interest to the student. The precise topic is determined in consultation with their supervisor. This degree is flexible and can be studied both on campus and online.

Career Opportunities

Students are able to further their studies and/or employment in fields relating to international policy and advocacy. Depending on the major, these can include professions within government, inter-governmental and non-government organisations and the business sector such as: defence forces; environmental advocacy; human rights advocacy; immigration; intelligence agencies; international diplomacy; international commerce; journalism; non-government organisations; overseas development assistance; postgraduate studies and academia; public policy making and advice; and public relations.

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Degree Snapshot

DURATION

1 Year Full-time
2 Years Part-time

FEES

CSP
International

2019 STUDY OPTIONS
Armidale

Trimester 1, Online
Trimester 1, On Campus
Trimester 2, Online
Trimester 2, On Campus

Official Abbreviation BIntSt(Hons)
Course Type Bachelor Honours
CRICOS Code 084071A
Commencing
Location Admission Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 Online
Armidale Trimester 1 On Campus
Armidale Trimester 2 Online
Armidale Trimester 2 On Campus
Course Duration
  • 1 Year Full-time
  • 2 Years Part-time
Fees CSP / International
For fee information, click here
Total Credit Points 48
Intensive Schools

Mandatory intensive schools may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. See Unit Catalogue for specific requirements.

Entry Requirements

1. Admission to candidature shall be determined by the Head of School on the recommendation of the Course Coordinator.

2. Except as provided in Rule 3, a candidate for admission to the honours course shall:

(a) hold an AQF Level 7 Bachelor of International Studies from The University of New England; and

(b) have attained a minimum grade point average of 5.0 (Credit); and

(c) have achieved 18 credit points at Distinction level or better in 300-level units in the major in which the candidate wishes to proceed; and

(d) have passed units to the value of at least 36 credit points in the major in which the candidate wishes to proceed, except that with the approval of the course coordinator, up to 12 credit points of other units may be substituted; and

(e) have fulfilled any additional requirements prescribed and published by the school or area concerned.

3. With the approval of the Head of School a person who has fulfilled the requirements of an equivalent AQF Level 7 Bachelor qualification of a university or other institution and who meets requirements considered by the school to be equivalent to those specified in Rule 2 (b), (c), (d) and (e), may be admitted to the honours course leading to the degree of Bachelor of International Studies with Honours.

Advanced Standing

Candidates are referred to the University Policy on Advanced Standing.

Advanced standing will not be granted for the dissertation component.

Academic Colours

White (BCC 1)

Further Information

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These course rules & plans are ONLY to be used if you commenced, transferred or changed versions in the Bachelor of International Studies with Honours in 2019.

Admission to Candidature

1. Admission to candidature shall be determined by the Head of School on the recommendation of the course coordinator.
2. Except as provided in Rule 3, a candidate for admission to the honours course shall:
(a) hold an AQF Level 7 Bachelor of International Studies from the University of New England; and
(b) have attained a minimum grade point average of 5.0 (Credit); and
(c) have achieved 18 credit points at Distinction level or better in 300-level units in the major in which the candidate wishes to proceed; and
(d) have passed units to the value of at least 36 credit points in the major in which the candidate wishes to proceed, except that with the approval of the course coordinator, up to 12 credit points of other units may be substituted; and
(e) have fulfilled any additional requirements prescribed and published by the School or area concerned.
3. With the approval of the Head of School a person who has fulfilled the requirements for an equivalent AQF Level 7 Bachelor qualification of a university or other institution and who meets requirements considered by the School to be equivalent to those specified in Rule 2 (b), (c), (d) and (e), may be admitted to the honours course leading to the degree of Bachelor of International Studies with Honours.

Advanced Standing

Candidates are referred to the University Policy on Advanced Standing.

Advanced standing will not be awarded for the dissertation component.

Period of Candidature

The period of candidature shall be:
(a) one year as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to two years as a part-time candidate.

Course Requirements

1. To qualify for the award a candidate must pass units to the value of 48 credit points comprising:
(i) an advanced course work unit comprised of several integrated components to the value of 24 credit points; and
(ii) a dissertation component to the value of 24 credit points.

2. A Bachelor of International Studies (Honours) candidate is required to consult regularly with his or her supervisor(s). The nature and extent of such consultation will be determined by the supervisor(s) and course coordinator after consultation with the candidate prior to commencement of each year of candidature and may require face-to-face consultation.

Program of Study

Candidates shall complete an approved program of study as outlined in the Course Schedule comprising:

Course Structure Credit Points
Core Units 48 cps
Total 48 cps

To view complete Program of Study click here

Award of Degree

Candidates who meet the course requirements shall be awarded the Bachelor of International Studies with Honours.

Classes of Honours

There shall be three classes of honours, namely First Class Honours (H1), Second Class Honours, Division 1 (H2.1), Second Class Honours, Division 2 (H2.2) and Third Class Honours (H3).
An exceptionally distinguished candidate who has been awarded First Class Honours may be awarded a University Medal.

The final class of honours will be determined on the basis of marks awarded for both dissertation and coursework with 50% allocated to each.

Calculation of Honours Result

The ratio of assessment components should equal the ratio of marks within the final grade. The calculation of results for the award can be found in the School's Honours Handbook.

Suspensions and Extensions to Candidature

The School may grant an extension or suspension of candidature, or a combination of both, to full-time candidates for up to six months or to part-time candidates for up to 12 months as follows:
(a) by way of extension of candidature, to compensate a candidate for time lost by ill-health or unforeseeable and unavoidable difficulties; or
(b) by way of suspension of candidature, to compensate a candidate who produces evidence that he/she shall not be in a position to pursue work towards the Bachelor of International Studies (Honours).

Re-enrolment

1. A candidate may be granted a deferral by the School to re-enrol in a subsequent year if they withdraw from candidature by the census date of the teaching period in which they commenced. This is subject to the School being able to provide appropriate supervision.

2. A part-time candidate who withdraws later than the census date in the second year of enrolment but prior to two months before the submission of the dissertation as required by the Head of School may re-enrol in the same subject for the degree, provided that:
(a) two years will have elapsed before such re-enrolment;
(b) the topic of study undertaken within the dissertation is different from that of the original enrolment; and
(c) subject to the School being able to provide appropriate supervision.

3. A candidate who withdraws later than two months prior to the date on which the dissertation is required shall be deemed to have failed.

4. A candidate who is deemed to have failed may, after a lapse of three years, be permitted to apply for re-admission to the course, provided the proposed work is in a different topic of study within the dissertation from that of the original enrolment and subject to the School being able to provide appropriate supervision.

Examination of Dissertation

1. The dissertation will be assessed by at least two examiners neither of whom will be the candidate's supervisor.
2. The dissertation examination processes are described in the School's Honours Handbook.

Submission of Dissertation

Submission of the dissertation will be 39 weeks from the commencement of the trimester in which a candidate is enrolled.

Appeals

Candidates are referred to the Academic Assessment Appeals Policy and the Academic Assessment Appeals Procedures.

Course Progression

Candidates are referred to the Course Progression Rule and the Course Progression Procedures.

Improper Conduct

Candidates are referred to the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Rule and the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Procedures.

Course Aims

To prepare students for entry to postgraduate studies and/or employment in fields relating to international policy and advocacy. These may include professions within government, inter-governmental and non-government organisations and the business sector.

Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
  1. exhibit advanced knowledge, comprehension, analysis and critical thinking within a specialised area of international studies based on coursework and a dissertation;
  2. display high level research skills in relation to the collection and evaluation of information via traditional and electronic sources as well as adopt meticulous scholarly methods of referencing;
  3. demonstrate proficiency in generic written communication skills with regard to the presentation, fluency, style and clarity required of scholarly prose;
  4. compare, analyse and evaluate conflicting facts, arguments and perspectives to address international problems in relation to their specific fields of study;
  5. apply advanced understanding of diverse societies; and accompanying values; and
  6. demonstrate and apply an advanced knowledge of theories and concepts in a specialised field of international studies with intellectual independence.
Graduate Attributes
Knowledge of a Discipline

Graduates will have obtained an in-depth knowledge of one or more cognate disciplines in their chosen majors. This will include an appreciation of the processes through which knowledge has evolved in these disciplines. They will also be familiar with transnational and multicultural approaches to the understanding of various issues. This knowledge is taught via lectures or podcasts, interactive discussion in class or online, set readings and assessments.

Communication Skills

Graduates will have developed good communication skills in their written work. They will have adopted a scholarly approach to research, presentation, writing and referencing. Assessment tasks foster these skills. On-campus students hone verbal skills in class.

Problem Solving

Many disciplines in this degree challenge students to apply their critical reasoning capacity to address real problems and dilemmas facing individuals, states, inter-governmental organisations and non-government actors. Graduates will have developed skills to compare, analyse and evaluate conflicting 'facts', arguments and perspectives with a view to finding solutions to problems.

Information Literacy

Graduates of international studies will have acquired skills in research and analysis, which in turn depend on the collection and evaluation of information from a range of sources. As many units are topical an ability to use up-to-date e-resources will have been mastered by graduates.

Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility

International studies have an inherent ethical dimension as it concerns the politics of who decides who gets what on a global level. That issue is addressed in assessment tasks and in class or online discussion. After completing this course graduates will be equipped to apply a spirit of enquiry, critique, ethics and analysis to daily life and current affairs.

Lifelong Learning

Graduates will have honed life-long learning skills in research, analysis, interpretation and exposition. Graduates will be able to critique values, policies and processes. This includes an ability to mount arguments by developing ideas, seeking evidence, assessing alternatives and drawing independent conclusions. Graduates will have learned to engage in a flexible and open-minded pursuit of knowledge.

Independence and Collaboration

Graduates will have developed skills in the independent study of international issues, in particular through autonomously researching and executing their assessment tasks. Teamwork is practised in interactive seminars and/or online discussion whereby students pose questions, communicate ideas and solve problems in cooperation with their peers and staff. Graduates will thus have learned to collaborate with others in a variety of contexts.

How to Apply

Domestic Students

All domestic students apply through the link below

For more information, click here

International Students

International students apply direct to UNE through UNE International.This course is only available online (distance education).

For more information, click here

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